Machine for sewing leather.



No. 663,462. Patented Dec. II, 1900. G. L. PIERCE.

MACHINE FOR SEWING LEATHER.

(Application filed. Mar. 28, 1900.

(No Model.)

UNrrEn 'ra'res FFi GEORGE L. PIERCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. GOODSPEED, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR SEWING LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,462, dated December 11, 1900.

Application filed March 28,1900. Serial No. 10,433. \N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE L. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn,county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to machines which are adapted for the sewing of leather; and it has for its object to provide means whereby such machines can accomplish what is known as angle-sewingthat is to say, the sewing together of two pieces of leather or like material which are disposed at a right angle, or thereabout, with each other. Heretofore such work, examples of which are found in leather cases of all descriptions, has generally been performed by hand whenever good strong work has been required, and if attempts have been made to do such work by machinery they have failed of accomplishing satisfactory results. The present invention, by which thoroughly satisfactory results are secured and by which great economy of time and labor as compared with handwork is attained, is concerned particularly with the means for supporting the work during the formation of the stitches and will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a 'convenient and practical embodiment thereof is illustrated for purposes of explanation.

in the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of a portion of an ordinary sole-sewing machine to which the improvements are applied. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in side elevation as seen from the right hand in Fig. 1, of some of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4. is a detail plan view, on a larger scale, of the table shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, with its knife and guide.

As indicated above, the invention is particularly concerned with the means for holding the work during the formation of the stitches which join the two parts or pieces of leather or other like material. The devices for forming the stitches may be of any usual or suitable character and are represented in the drawings, so far as they are necessary to be shown, as of the same general character as those shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. MELSZO, dated April 26, 1892, to which reference may be had for a detailed description of their nature and mode of operation. It is sufficient to refer herein to the bent awl a, which is thrust through the work while it is held in position to form an opening for the passage of the needle I), which draws the thread through and loops it. A work-table and a presser-foot are employed for the purpose of holding the work during the operation of sewing, somewhat as set forth in the patent referred to; but they are rearranged and modified to accommodate the particular class of work to be done. As represented in the drawings, the work-table c is supported through a suitable arm 0 upon the frame of the machine. It is perforated, as

usual, as at 0 to permit the passage of the purpose of trimming the edge'of the work after the sewing a knife 9 may alsobe carried by the work-table. As represented in the drawings, the knife stands up at an obtuse angle with the working face d, and its shank is bent to lie in a slot 6 in the face e, being held in place by the overlapping end of the guide-plate f. The knife can thus be easily adjusted or replaced by a sharp knife when necessary. The presser-foot his supported substantially as shown in the patent above referred to and is shaped, as usual, so as to permit the passage of the point of the awl by it. It is preferably formed with a toe t, the point or edge of which stands at one side of the working face of the work-table and bites into the work slightly as the work is held in position. It will be observed that the working face d of the work-table is substantially parallel with the general direction in which the toe 2' points, reference being had to the line which bisects the angle formed by the outer and lower face of the toe'. By reference to Fig. 2, in which the work is indicated by dotted lines, it will be seen that in this manner the working face d of the worktable gives a broad bearing for and supports one side of the work about the right angle, or thereabout, which is formed by the two pieces of material which are to be joined together, while the presser-foot provides an abutment for the other side of the work about the right angle and at the same time by biting into the work slightly holds the one of the two pieces of material down upon the other piece. In this manner the two parts of the work are held always in proper relative position and are sustained against displacement by the awl as it is forced through the work.

It will be understood that the work is held firmly by the operator, generally with a form inside against the work-table and the toe of the presser, so that by reason of the yielding character of the material the toe indents slightly or bites into that piece of the material which is pressed against it.

By the use of the devices described, which can be applied readily to a machine of the character referred to, a tight strong union of two parts at right angles or thereabout can be secured without resort to cement, the work done being not only superior to handwork, but accomplished at much less cost.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for angle-sewing, the combination with the work-table to support one side of the work about the angle, of a presserfoot having a toe at one side of the working face of the work-table and pointed in a general direction substantially parallel with the working face of the work-table to form an abutment for the other side of the work about the angle and to bite into the same, substan with the working face of the work-table to form an abutment for the other side of the work about the aiigle and to bite into the same, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a machine for angle-sewing, the combination with the work-table having a slotted face and the presser-foot having a toe at one side of the working face of the work-table, of a knife having its blade disposed at an angle with the working face of the work-table and its shank bent to lie in said slot, and a plate a secured to the worktable and overlying said shank, substantially as shown and described. This specification signed and witnessed this 27th day of March, A. D. 1900.

GEORGE L. PIERCE. In presence of--,

ANTHONY N. J ESBERA, LOUIS R. MOORE. 

